Submissions

To: Justice Select Committee 
Date: April 2026 

Purpose

The purpose of this submission was to oppose the Government’s proposal to replace the five yearly Census with an administration first (admin first) approach to population data collection. 

Summary of DPA submission

DPA has major concerns with the bill and asked that it be withdrawn. 

Internationally, countries that have modernised their statistical systems have generally kept a periodic census because it remains the only method that reliably reaches people who do not appear in administrative systems. 

Our concerns stem from the fact that - using the admin first approach - the statistical base becomes narrower and more dependent on systems that are already inconsistent and inequitable. Admin first approaches also undermine Māori data sovereignty and make unmet need harder to demonstrate, all impacting upon the ability to conduct data-based advocacy, something that is important to organisations like DPA. 

These concerns are valid given that Stats NZ has itself admitted that admin first systems have various shortcomings. 

DPA strongly supports the reinstatement of a full Census held on a specified date/month every five years, and one which is accessible and inclusive to everyone, including disabled people.